My name is Aaron, I am the proud owner of Mariah, formerly owned by Mr. Gilchriest of this list. I've been sailing her out of Nabbs Creek on the Chesapeake Bay for the past few weeks, having a great time.
I have questions about replacing the mast support beam. I've done this before on other boats where the rafter was glassed in and made of 15 layers of 1/4" marine ply laminated together. But on the Vega, it seems to be three layers of 3/4" mahogany fitted and screwed together and simply sitting on the bulkhead amidships. The beam on Mariah has a visible belly in it and the rigging has been tightened down to make allowance over the years. There is ZERO sign of leakage through the mast step and I mean to keep it that way.
I know I have to make minor notches for mast wiring. I can prefab the beam, tie her up in a travel lift slip for a few hours, lift the mast, replace the beam and reset the mast. Has anyone done this? It's not any more complicated than this? Forgive me but I'm not used to simplification. Probably my bad habit of owning complicated American made boats for 40 years...
Aaron
I have questions about replacing the mast support beam. I've done this before on other boats where the rafter was glassed in and made of 15 layers of 1/4" marine ply laminated together. But on the Vega, it seems to be three layers of 3/4" mahogany fitted and screwed together and simply sitting on the bulkhead amidships. The beam on Mariah has a visible belly in it and the rigging has been tightened down to make allowance over the years. There is ZERO sign of leakage through the mast step and I mean to keep it that way.
I know I have to make minor notches for mast wiring. I can prefab the beam, tie her up in a travel lift slip for a few hours, lift the mast, replace the beam and reset the mast. Has anyone done this? It's not any more complicated than this? Forgive me but I'm not used to simplification. Probably my bad habit of owning complicated American made boats for 40 years...
Aaron